My little letter

This past Wednesday, Doug Pagitt from Solomon's Porch, an emergent church community up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, came to talk in chapel. He had some good things to say and some confused things to say. After the chapel service was over (which I did not think was anywhere near offensive) I heard of multiple people that were just fuming at what he had to say. I heard of even more who didn't care to pay attention in chapel because he was an emergent pastor. So, in my boring afternoon, I wrote a little letter to the Echo, the on campus paper, with a few of my thoughts. This letter will be in this Friday's paper. I wanted to post the letter here as well. Let me know what you think!
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Dear Editor,

I am writing in regards to our Wednesday chapel speaker, Doug Pagitt. (If you weren't in chapel, Mr. Pagitt is a pastor of an Emergent church in Minneapolis, Minnesota called Solomon's Porch.) During the chapel service, Mr. Pagitt talked about importance of relationships within the Christian community and shared his perspective on how church could be done, specifically within Solomon's Porch.

While some were interested in what Mr. Pagitt had to say, of course I have heard of others that could not care less about anything that came out of Mr. Pagitt's mouth. Some of those that were not paying attention in chapel cited the fact that they disagreed with Mr. Pagitt as the reason why they did not pay attention.

Regardless if I agreed with everything that was said in chapel or not, I still have this to offer: If you think you disagree with something someone has to say, turning your attention away from the subject is not the solution. For those who are somehow wary of the Emergent church movement, not paying attention is about the last thing you should have done in chapel, in my opinion. Having that attitude does not foster a learning environment for either yourself of the people around you. If you disagreed with Mr. Pagitt and his ministry model, did you at least have enough respect to listen to what he had to say in chapel so you know specifically how you disagree with him? Or did you tune him out the minute you heard the word "emergent?"

Think with me here. If the United States Senators adopted this attitude while debating a bill on the floor, the conversation would move nowhere. Those in support of the bill would be better off talking to a wall, and the opponents of the bill would be better off arguing with the sky.

This position of stubbornness is oriented away from the very purpose of a University; to come together as students and faculty to both start conversations and continue existing conversations that have the potential to change a person's ideas. Otherwise, why even come to school in the first place? Close-mindedness is a lot cheaper when you just stay at home.

-- Stephen Vandervort

Corporate America at its best

Add another point to Wal-Mart being an absolute nightmare to the world:

They sued one of their own workers, a brain-damaged woman, wanting her medical expenses back that were paid to her after a car wreck.

Good grief. Don't even try to convince me that a $90 BILLION PROFIT company really needs that $474,000.

Brings to mind a certain parable of Jesus' in Luke 19...the parable of the Ten Pounds. The evil, rich ruler says, “I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”

So please, shop at Target?

PS. If you'd like to look into personally boycotting Wal-Mart like I and others have, there are lots of videos on YouTube illustrating how they are literally taking over the USA. Cara has a good video to show too...I'm sure she'll post the link in the comments ;)